I made a modern version of the Rotula for the 2026-2060 period. A feeling of magic at work when you find that the predicted dates match the ones found on the web, to the nearest day...

My version is made with #TeXLaTeX (TikZ) with some #Python .

I started making paper astronomical models during Covid: I didn't know such nice paper models existed...

As usual, everything you need is available on my website for download. Print & cut out the wheels and follow the instructions on the 12-page PDF. I wrote a user guide in french, and also one in english.

https://www.astrolabe-science.fr/maquette-astronomical-rotula-de-ferguson/

From #CTAN:

Cédric Pierquet submitted an update to the tkz-grapheur package.

Version: 0.2.9 2026-01-12
License: lppl1.3c

Summary description: A LaTeX package with tools for graph plotting (and TikZ)

https://ctan.org/pkg/tkz-grapheur

#TeXLaTeX @cpierquet 📈

From #CTAN:

Cédric Pierquet submitted an update to the tkz-grapheur package.

Version: 0.2.9 2026-01-12
License: lppl1.3c

Summary description: A LaTeX package with tools for graph plotting (and TikZ)

https://ctan.org/pkg/tkz-grapheur

#TeXLaTeX @cpierquet 📈

#WordWeavers January 13th
Where was your latest writing session? How did it go?

On Sunday. It was mostly #TeXLaTeX typesetting my latest translations for my "Master Volume" - my massive document with all my translations which I send out each month to my higher-tier Patreon supporters. (809 tales and counting.)

It's tedious work, but I am glad I've finished it this early in the month - hopefully, I can now get some work done on my actual book manuscript.

I made a modern version of the Rotula for the 2026-2060 period. A feeling of magic at work when you find that the predicted dates match the ones found on the web, to the nearest day...

My version is made with #TeXLaTeX (TikZ) with some #Python .

I started making paper astronomical models during Covid: I didn't know such nice paper models existed...

As usual, everything you need is available on my website for download. Print & cut out the wheels and follow the instructions on the 12-page PDF. I wrote a user guide in french, and also one in english.

https://www.astrolabe-science.fr/maquette-astronomical-rotula-de-ferguson/

@ctietze I need to be able to make slides from #OrgMode files. But #Beamer cannot (and will not) be made to produce #taggedPDF output (thanks, @mxp). So rather than bang my head against #TeXLaTeX, I took a step back.

Check this out:

pandoc why-yes-i-am-a-wizard.org -o why-yes-i-am-a-wizard.pptx && soffice --headless --convert-to pdf why-yes-i-am-a-wizard.pptx

https://help.libreoffice.org/latest/en-US/text/shared/guide/start_parameters.html

No Haskell noodling required.

#libreoffice #accessibility

@ctietze I need to be able to make slides from #OrgMode files. But #Beamer cannot (and will not) be made to produce #taggedPDF output (thanks, @mxp). So rather than bang my head against #TeXLaTeX, I took a step back.

Check this out:

pandoc why-yes-i-am-a-wizard.org -o why-yes-i-am-a-wizard.pptx && soffice --headless --convert-to pdf why-yes-i-am-a-wizard.pptx

https://help.libreoffice.org/latest/en-US/text/shared/guide/start_parameters.html

No Haskell noodling required.

#libreoffice #accessibility

This thread right here, ladies and gentleman. The Fediverse in a nutshell.

Where else do you find #Emacs, #TeXLaTeX, #foss #licences, and workflows for publishing #ukele #sheetmusic for obscure tunings? And not in English. ¡Viva la Fedi! Gracias à @choan

https://social.anartist.org/@choan/115815190453569477

This thread right here, ladies and gentleman. The Fediverse in a nutshell.

Where else do you find #Emacs, #TeXLaTeX, #foss #licences, and workflows for publishing #ukele #sheetmusic for obscure tunings? And not in English. ¡Viva la Fedi! Gracias à @choan

https://social.anartist.org/@choan/115815190453569477

Performing some quick statistical analyses in classic #RStats and neatly “knitting” them into a PDF using #RMarkdown, #knitr, and #MacTeX #texLaTeX.

Call me old-fashioned, but I really enjoy this workflow.

#OpenSource #FOSS #statistics

Performing some quick statistical analyses in classic #RStats and neatly “knitting” them into a PDF using #RMarkdown, #knitr, and #MacTeX #texLaTeX.

Call me old-fashioned, but I really enjoy this workflow.

#OpenSource #FOSS #statistics

From #CTAN:

Javier Bezos López submitted an update to the babel package.

Version: 25.16 2025-11-23
License: lppl1.3

Summary description: Multilingual support for LaTeX, LuaLaTeX, XeLaTeX, and Plain TeX

https://latex3.github.io/babel/news/whats-new-in-babel-25.16.html
https://ctan.org/pkg/babel

#TeXLaTeX 🇺🇳

From #CTAN:

Javier Bezos López submitted an update to the babel package.

Version: 25.16 2025-11-23
License: lppl1.3

Summary description: Multilingual support for LaTeX, LuaLaTeX, XeLaTeX, and Plain TeX

https://latex3.github.io/babel/news/whats-new-in-babel-25.16.html
https://ctan.org/pkg/babel

#TeXLaTeX 🇺🇳

#Astronomy
This is the "Planétaire ou planisphère nouveau" by M. Flécheux (1780).
A paper (or cardboard) astronomical instrument, with which you can derive some astronomical parameters.
Background: a star chart and a calendar, a pivoting ruler carrying scales and a set of 3 rotating wheels.

Knowing the date, longitude and local time, you can find the time of passage of stars or Moon at the meridian. Inversely you can derive your longitude by the time of meridian passage. Flécheux claims that his instrument is a solution to the longitude problem at sea, if you carry a watch with the time of the home port... quite a bold statement, given the modest size of the hour wheel, but certainly a major question of his time. In 1780 only a few marine chronometers were available.

Otherwise a pretty instrument. To understand how it works, I couldn't help making a modern reproduction ( #TeXLaTeX and #python).
The original (perhaps unique extant copy?) is sold 20000 GBP in London...

#Astronomy
This is the "Planétaire ou planisphère nouveau" by M. Flécheux (1780).
A paper (or cardboard) astronomical instrument, with which you can derive some astronomical parameters.
Background: a star chart and a calendar, a pivoting ruler carrying scales and a set of 3 rotating wheels.

Knowing the date, longitude and local time, you can find the time of passage of stars or Moon at the meridian. Inversely you can derive your longitude by the time of meridian passage. Flécheux claims that his instrument is a solution to the longitude problem at sea, if you carry a watch with the time of the home port... quite a bold statement, given the modest size of the hour wheel, but certainly a major question of his time. In 1780 only a few marine chronometers were available.

Otherwise a pretty instrument. To understand how it works, I couldn't help making a modern reproduction ( #TeXLaTeX and #python).
The original (perhaps unique extant copy?) is sold 20000 GBP in London...

From #CTAN:

Alain Matthes submitted an update to the tkz-elements package.

Version: 4.35c 2025-11-08
License: lppl1.3c

Summary description: A Lua library for drawing Euclidean geometry with TikZ or tkz-euclide

https://ctan.org/pkg/tkz-elements

#TeXLaTeX 📐

From #CTAN:

Alain Matthes submitted an update to the tkz-elements package.

Version: 4.35c 2025-11-08
License: lppl1.3c

Summary description: A Lua library for drawing Euclidean geometry with TikZ or tkz-euclide

https://ctan.org/pkg/tkz-elements

#TeXLaTeX 📐

Update on on // foss.events:

Call for Participation and Registration have been added for

DANTE by DANTE e.V. on 11-13 March 2026 in Firma WIWA Wilhelm Wagner GmbH & Co.KG, Werk 2 in #Lahnau-Waldgirmes, #Germany

Find out more on
https://foss.events/2026/03-11-dante.html

Connect via official hashtag(s): #TeXLaTeX

#foss #floss #freesoftware #opensource #events #Europe